Myths Reawakened

Juno complained on and on. When she noticed that Wayne hadn’t reacted at all, she said incredulously, “I’m gorgeous, my fiancé is also gorgeous, and I’m a defeated princess. I don’t understand you at all. Anyone else would’ve had us deliver your children by now.”

“The Lando family has always held the utmost respect for the royal family!”

“Not Auston!”

“I can’t say anything about that...” Wayne sighed. The Lando family had produced a real disgrace, and he couldn’t do anything about it. How humiliating.

“I’ve made my case. Edward and I have no interest in reclaiming the royal family’s power; we were just dragged back to Londan by Auriel. As for my mother...” Juno trailed off. “She may have some expectations.”

Wayne nodded in understanding. He could guess how the Queen would play it. She would pretend to be reluctant and resigned, but inwardly held high hopes for what Auriel could do. She had been the Queen for half her life and suddenly became a puppet overnight. Anyone would find that hard to swallow.

However, the Queen was no fool. She knew what the consequences of failure would be. She would go from having authentic Francan cuisine at Buckingham Palace to having watery porridge in a basement. Staying a puppet would’ve been a better fate in that case.

Auriel was using the Queen, and the Queen was using Auriel. If it worked, wonderful. If not, she could claim that she had been coerced.

“Alright, I understand what you’re saying,” Wayne said with a smile. “I’ll give you my word. Whatever conflict arises will be between Auriel and me. The Windsor family won’t be dragged into it.”

“That’s all I want.” Juno nodded repeatedly. What had she said? She said that while Wayne was unreasonable, he could be reasoned with. Alistair refused to believe it and insisted that Juno was biased.

Juno batted her eyes at him. “It’s almost noon. Since I’ve given you such important intelligence, it’s not too much to ask you to buy me lunch, is it?”

“Haven’t you made up your mind to go to Heaven?” Wayne said, puzzled. “Why are you so hung up on claiming me?”

“You’re a Śār. How am I going to get into Heaven if you don’t get into me? How am I gonna climb up the ladder after entering Heaven?”

You’re right!

Wayne tapped his own head. He almost forgot that he was supposed to be a Śār.

“Shameless woman!”

The office door opened, and in walked Lust incarnate with a frosty look on her face, her eyes fixed on Juno. Juno swallowed involuntarily.

Gulp! x2

Wait, there are two tracks?

Juno turned around to look at Wayne. He calmly explained, “Gulping once means you’re afraid of her. You haven’t made the gulp that meant you coveted her. So, I voiced it for you. Now both your fear and desire are expressed.”

Why, thank you!

Juno rose to her feet meekly, her silver tongue failing in Hestia’s presence.

Although Lust incarnate was outrageously lewd as a textbook case of an angelic face paired with a devilish figure, rousing improper thoughts with her mere presence alone, she also carried herself with genuine authority, and she had a hot temper. Juno was quite intimidated by her.

“That’s it then, Wayne. I’ll be off.” Juno walked around Hestia, politely closing the door behind her.

“Hestia, I told you to go to the Papal State. Why are you here?” Wayne gestured at her to sit down.

Hestia settled on the other side of the desk. Her mood improved when she saw that the wench of a secretary wasn’t around.

Setting up a soundproof barrier, she said with a frown, “Śār, I understand your entanglement with the clergywoman, but what about the woman just now?”

It was her second time seeing Juno approach Wayne. She had no goodwill toward that woman. “She’s up to something. She wants to defile your purity. If I had to guess, it must be a mission assigned by Śār Mikhael.”

You’re overthinking. Mikhael wouldn’t be that petty, and, as the Viceroy of Heaven, he would be too proud to do that.

“Fair point.” Wayne nodded solemnly. “Mikhael has committed all wickedness in the world. I wouldn’t put that past him. I’ll keep my distance from Juno going forward. I absolutely will not allow her to compromise my purity.”

Happy that her superior had accepted her advice, Hestia allowed herself a brief smile. Then her smile dropped. “Śār, I’ve brought important information back from the Papal State. The final two reincarnated angels have gone missing. I found out through my investigation that they had received orders from Śār Auriel before they disappeared.”

“I know. They’re both in Londan.”

Wayne nodded. The last two reincarnated angels had come, too. He knew them well—Archibald and Kael. He wondered whether they had awakened.

Kael, especially, piqued his curiosity. Who was he in Heaven, exactly? What suffering had he undergone to become twisted like that?

With all the different ways he’d embarrassed himself, he was unlikely to have awakened. Even if he had, he would pretend he hadn’t.

“You knew already, Śār?” Hestia asked in surprise. Then something clicked for her, prompting her to shoot to her feet. “You’ve met them in Londan?”

She knocked into the pencil cup on the desk as she rose and leaned over. She quickly picked it up and put everything back in place. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Wayne couldn’t help but glance over. He explained, “Juno’s a spy I planted among the reincarnated angels. She told me. You didn’t know that, but you should show her more respect next time. At the end of the day, she’s done her part.”

“Even so, she shouldn’t covet you!” Hestia insisted.

“Sit down first. You’re too bouncy.” Wayne gestured at her. He went on to say what Juno had told him, then asked curiously, “So, the last two angels have already arrived in Londan. Why did you come later than they did?”

“I took some time beating up the Pope.”

“...”

Wayne fell silent. He was embarrassed to admit that he actually had a fondness for the old man. His Horniness was a clever one, and his unorthodox methods were right up Wayne’s alley, like the cross necklace that could transform into different outfits, the ‘voluntary’ slave contract, and the Pope’s preferences for clergywomen...

Wayne cleared his throat behind a fist. “Don’t beat him up again. Someone like you hitting him is basically a reward. Who knows how much the old man enjoyed it?”

Hestia didn’t understand why getting hit would be a reward. She snorted, “That man sent a shameless clergywoman to you and caused you to lose your purity before you even awakened. He deserved what he got. If I weren’t worried about exposing you, I would’ve told him the whole truth so that he would take his own life in apology.”

That means he won’t be going to Heaven. You want him to go to Hell!

Wayne kept his comments to himself. His Horniness didn’t have malicious thoughts. He had only tried to kidnap the reincarnated angels’ future children to reaffirm the Church of Heavenly Father’s dominance in the human world. If His Horniness knew that Śār Hesione was among the reincarnated angels, he wouldn’t have dared mess around, not in a million years. When all was said and done, it was Heaven’s fault for not informing him. They were arrogant to keep up their aloof act.

That said, His Horniness wasn’t entirely without fault. The standard-issue combat outfit worn by the clergywomen of the Church of Heavenly Father had been his creation. While it looked modest, it created a seductive impression that compelled the heretics to submit to the Holy Light.

That was wrong and deserved criticism!

Then again, abusing his authority for his own indulgence would only warrant him a reprimand rather than a death sentence; he certainly didn’t deserve a one-way trip to Hell. If the Pope actually went to Hell, his reputation and accomplishments would even compel the Seven Demon Lords to show him respect, thanking him for his hard work in the human world as Hell’s spy.

He should be punished to serve as Pope in the human world for the rest of his life.

“Śār, the Pope caused you so much suffering. Why are you smiling?” Hestia was genuinely tormented by the matter. She had a feeling that the Śār was enjoying himself. He’d picked up all manner of bad habits during his stay and wouldn’t be able to turn back.

“A true warrior faces their bleak life and the blood they have spilled. I smile because I am pure. Do you understand?”

“I don’t.”

“Given your comprehension skills, it’s difficult for me to explain to you clearly.” Wayne dropped the subject, tapping the desk with his fingertip. “All seven reincarnated angels have arrived in Londan. I have no one but you on my side. It doesn’t seem like we could win.”

Hestia frowned deeply in concern. The political landscape in the mortal realm didn’t matter, nor did who the ruler of Windsor was. She knew that the contest between the two Śārim was about something else, and given the current situation, Wayne was at an absolute disadvantage.

“This subordinate is too inadequate to bring you victory,” she said guiltily.

“It’s not your fault, and things aren’t as dire as you think.” Wayne smiled. “With all seven reincarnated angels in one place, this is a rare opportunity. Perhaps I could use this to draw out the demon lord hiding in Londan.”

“Demon lord?”

“Yes, I failed to awaken before and underwent a great change in personality because of the hellish seal within me...” Wayne told the full story, substituting himself for Mona/Hesione.

Hestia immediately lost her temper. She slammed the desk and shot to her feet, knocking over the pencil cup once more. This time, it went flying, and the pencils inside clattered and scattered across the desk, some of which rolled off to the floor below.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“...”

Wayne stared wordlessly as Hestia cleaned up the mess. Once was an accident. Twice... Excuse him for letting her figure color his thoughts. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu.

Ah, yes. If she had knocked over a glass of water instead, it would be the classic setup he was familiar with.

After picking up the pencils, Hestia moved to Wayne’s side, picking up the pencils that had rolled to his feet. Her white clergy outfit pulled taut for a moment, and the curves of her waist and hips were on full display.

Wayne dragged the chair back. Hestia’s blush told him that she had ‘accidentally’ knocked over the pencil cup on purpose.

“What are you doing, Hestia?”

“Picking up pencils.”

Pencils? You’re salivating after the Śār! I’m too embarrassed to call you out!

Wayne rolled his eyes. He also salivated after the Śār, so technically, he and Hestia were kindred spirits. The difference was that he had gotten what he desired, while Hestia had not. Worse, she had even drooled over the wrong person.

Wayne knew that he wasn’t Hesione, so he rejected Hestia’s advances. He waited for her to finish picking up all the pencils, pretending that nothing had happened.

Frustrated, Hestia said honestly, “Śār, setting aside the matter of the demon, we cannot resolve the fundamental conflict between you and Śār Auriel, only delay an inevitable clash. It’s going to be two against five. The situation isn’t looking good for us.”

“You made Mona stronger. Then you can make me stronger, too. I hope that I can fight for victory and glory for you.”

A loyal one!

The more Hestia went on, the more distance Wayne tried to put between them. He changed the subject again. “Speaking of demons, the mysterious demon lord has cost me my purity. Given how loyal you are, you should be focusing on the demon lord.”

“I can’t beat him. I need power!” Hestia said, unabashed.

“...”

Can’t argue with that!

Wayne rolled his eyes. “Just a moment ago, you were telling me that Juno had ulterior motives, and I should safeguard my purity. How does the reasoning change when it’s you?”

“I’m doing this to defeat demons, to secure victory and glory!” Sensing Wayne’s resistance wavering, Hestia pressed harder, “Besides, I’m not like her. I’m a reincarnated angel. I’m purer than her and your shameless secretary. I would not corrupt your noble form.”

Yeah, because I would be corrupting you.

Wayne was about to talk back when the office door burst open. Mona stalked in with a dark look on her face. Judging by her bearing, Hesione was currently piloting the body.

“Frey, you are not pure! Your thinking is too vulgar!”

Hesione looked visibly contemptuous. She had never noticed until now how blatantly her subordinate coveted her.

“Hmph!” Hestia might be docile and deferential to Wayne, but she never pulled her punches with the secretary. She sneered. “Cut your hypocritical nonsense and look in a mirror before opening your mouth. You’re the nastiest and most impure person in this room!”

(一`´≖)

Wonderful, they’re gonna start fighting again, Wayne thought. Go, Hestia. You have my support!